Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 67

Devanagari script

निवर्तय मनस्तस्मादस्मात्सर्वविरोधिनः । मृगाक्षि मदनारातेर्मर्कटाक्षस्य प्रार्थनात्

Transliteration

nivartaya manastasmādasmātsarvavirodhinaḥ | mṛgākṣi madanārātermarkaṭākṣasya prārthanāt

Translation

O doe-eyed one, turn your mind away from him—hostile to all. Cease your seeking of that monkey-eyed foe of Kāma (Love).

Word by Word

• निवर्तय: turn back/withdraw
• निवर्तय: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अस्मात्: from this
• अस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वविरोधिनः: from the opponent of all (i.e., universally contrary)
• सर्वविरोधिनः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + विरोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां विरोधी)

• मृगाक्षि: O doe-eyed one
• मृगाक्षि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (मृगस्य इव अक्षिणी यस्याः सा)

• मदनारातेः: of the foe of Madana (Śiva)
• मदनारातेः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन + अराति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मदनस्य अरातिः)

• मर्कटाक्षस्य: of the monkey-eyed one
• मर्कटाक्षस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्कट + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (मर्कटस्य इव अक्षिणी यस्य सः)

• प्रार्थनात्: from the request/suit
• प्रार्थनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रार्थना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

Speaker

A brahmacārin critic (implied to be Śiva in disguise) addressing Pārvatī

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pārvatī

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An ascetic addresses the doe-eyed Pārvatī with urgent counsel: abandon the ‘monkey-eyed’ foe of Kāma; Pārvatī’s gaze remains unwavering, hinting at inner certainty despite the insult.

Characters & Entities

• Pārvatī
• Śiva (Madana-arāti)
• Madana/Kāma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The aspirant’s chosen path is tested through discouragement; steadfastness is the purifier of intention.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No sacred site is referenced.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is admonitory speech within a narrative.